4 Hybrid Vehicles to Avoid According to Consumer Reports 

These four hybrid vehicles should be avoided due to their poor reliability, fuel economy, safety ratings, and more. 
Written by Alexandra Maloney
Reviewed by Serena Aburahma
There’s no doubt that
hybrid vehicles
provide drivers with some great advantages. By combining a battery pack, electric motor, and gas engine under the hood, hybrid vehicles produce solid power, high fuel economy ratings, and good acceleration. And while these perks are great, not all hybrid vehicles are worth the investment
In fact, there are four hybrid vehicles
Consumer Reports
recommends drivers stay away from altogether. Although not all car critics agree with their suggestions, it’s important to be aware of the shortcomings of certain hybrid vehicles before you commit to purchasing, and
Jerry
will give you all the details on which ones are worth it.  

Ford F-150 Hybrid 

Consumer Reports advises drivers to steer clear of both F-150 hybrid versions, as they suffer from below-average reliability and fuel economy ratings. 
On top of the poor predicted reliability, when Consumer Reports tested the F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid on the road, they found that fuel economy was 20mpg overall, or only one mile better than the fuel economy of the gas-powered V6 F-150. 
Hybrids are known to have far better fuel economy ratings than their gas-powered counterparts, so this is definitely a disadvantage. 
But,
Motor Biscuit
still finds reasons drivers shouldn’t count out the Ford F-150 hybrid. Reviewers at Motor Biscuit appreciate that the F-150 hybrid comes with a portable generator, can tow up to 12,700 lbs, and has a horsepower of 430. 
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Ford Escape Hybrid 

While Consumer Reports admits the Ford Escape hybrid has a better drivetrain than its gas-powered counterpart, the ratings and review organization can’t recommend it due to its below-average reliability rating. 
U.S. News
adds to the negatives of this car stating that the cabin is made of cheap materials and the cargo space available is less than rivals. But, they do appreciate the easy-to-use infotainment system, roomy seating, and composed ride. 

Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid 

Similar to the Ford Escape hybrid, Consumer Reports finds the Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid to have lackluster predicted reliability ratings and for that reason, they can’t give the vehicle their recommendation for drivers to purchase. 
In addition to poor reliability,
U.S. News
points out that the fuel economy on the Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid is only 33-36mpg in the city and 30-31mpg on the highway, which isn’t up to par with other hybrid vehicles. 
However, it is worth mentioning that reviewers at U.S. News appreciated the car’s quiet and comfortable interior, as well as the ample cargo space. 

Kia Sorento Hybrid SUV

Consumer Reports doesn’t recommend the Kia Sorento Hybrid SUV for two reasons: fuel prices and fuel economy.
Reviewers found by comparing the sticker price difference between the Kia Sorento Hybrid and gas-powered Kia Sorento with the average fuel cost for both, it would take 11 years before drivers started saving on fuel.
This is largely because the Sorento hybrid only gets a fuel economy of 28mpg overall.
U.S. News
adds to the disadvantages of this Kia hybrid by pointing out that there’s poor cargo space and below-average safety ratings and features compared to similar cars in the class.  

Bonus Avoid: Mild Hybrids 

While Consumer Reports recommends drivers avoid the four specific hybrid vehicles listed above, they also recommend drivers avoid an entire class of hybrid vehicles – mild hybrids
Kelley Blue Book
explains that a mild hybrid means electric assist, not electric power, and uses one or all of these components to reduce fuel consumption: modest electric motor, small battery pack, regenerative braking system, and/or powerful electrical system.
While all these electric features can help the car, they can’t be driven on just electric or battery power. 
Consumer Reports doesn’t count mild hybrids like BMW’s eBoost and Ram’s eTorque in their hybrid ratings and don’t recommend them because of incredibly small fuel savings compared to a true hybrid vehicle.  
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